Second Lieutenant Howard R. Miller, Army serial number O-779188, was born at Spokane, Spokane County, Washington in 1924. His parents were Charles Alwyn Miller (7 Feb 1886 – unk), who was born at Marshalltown, Marshall County, Iowa; and Anna T. (Whittle) Miller (26 Aug 1890 – 7 Mar 1941), who was born in Rhode Island. (His mother's first name is recorded as Anadine in the 1940 US census.) He had a sister, Lucille Irene (Miller) Kuckenbecker (2 Mar 1920 – 12 Aug 1998), who was born at Spokane, Washington. In 1940 the family lived at West 107 28th Avenue in Spokane. His father was a foreman and later superintendent at McKesson Drug Company in Spokane.
He attended Jefferson Elementary School, and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane in 1942. His photo in the senior class yearbook is accompanied by this entry:
------------
Miller, Howard
Jefferson
Mathematics; A. S. B. Council;
Sergeant-at-Arms, Freshman
Class; Vice-President, Sophomore
Class; B. F. Council; U. of Idaho
------------
He was enrolled at the University of Idaho and was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Moscow, Latah County, Idaho on November 4, 1942.
He completed Army Air Forces pilot training, and was assigned as copilot on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Kenneth W. Lang. The Lang crew completed B-17 operational training at Alexandria Army Air Base, Louisiana, and was assigned to the 838th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived in England by October 31, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is Lt Lang's crew roster on December 24, 1944:
B-17G 44-8192 – 838th Bomb Squadron
• Lang, Kenneth W – 2/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Miller, Howard R – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Alvine Jr, Samuel – F/O – Navigator – Safe
• Lang, George F – 2/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Weber, James A – S/Sgt – Engineer – Safe
• Huck, Donald R – Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Yowan, Robert C – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – Safe
• Kausrud, Donald C – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Haskett, Charles W – Sgt – Tail Gunner – Safe
On December 24, 1944, the 8th Air Force launched mission #760, the largest aerial mission of the war, which involved more than 2000 heavy bombers. The mission was to bomb German airfields and supply lines to stop the German offensive in the Ardennes known as the Battle of the Bulge. The 487th Bomb Group led the entire 8th Air Force on this mission. Lt Lang's crew flew B-17G 44-8192 in the number eleven position of the 487th Bomb Group's Low Squadron. The Group's target was the airfield at Babenhausen, Germany, but the formation was attacked south of Liege, Belgium, before the Allied fighter cover arrived. German fighters shot down six of thirteen aircraft in the Low Squadron, including B-17G 44-8192. Lt Miller and three of his crewmates were killed in action. He and Lt Lang were probably killed by enemy gunfire on the flight deck. Sgt Huck and Sgt Kausrud were probably killed by enemy gunfire at their positions in the waist. Sgt Yowan was wounded by enemy gunfire in the ball turret, but he was able to exit the turret and bail out of the burning aircraft along with four others. The survivors landed in friendly territory and were recovered by American forces. The aircraft crashed at Louveigne, Belgium.
Lt Miller is buried at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Belgium, in Plot E, Row 8, Grave 50.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1920 US Census; Washington; Spokane County; Spokane City. Miller, Charles A. 2 Jan 1920 (his father)
3. 1940 US Census; Washington; Spokane County; Spokane City. Miller, Charles A. 5 Apr 1940 (his father)
4. American Battle Monuments Commission
5. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
6. Enlistment Record of Howard R. Miller
7. Haskett, Charles W. Battle of the Bulge Memories: The Last Mission. 2002 (tail gunner on the Kenneth Lang crew)
8. Rhode Island Birth Index Rhode Island Birth Index, 1636–1930 (ancestry.com). Annie T. Whittle born in Rhode Island on 26 Aug 1890; Father: James Whittle; Mother: Ann E Whittle (his mother)
9. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 11258
10. U.S. School Yearbooks, 1900–1999 (ancestry.com): Lewis and Clark High School. Tiger [yearbook]. Spokane, Washington, 1942 (photo on page 43)
11. U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, about Lucille Irene (Miller) Kuckenbecker (2 Mar 1920 – 12 Aug 1998) (his sister)
12. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946
13. U.S. World War II Jewish Servicemen Cards, 1942–1947 (ancestry.com). Death of 2/Lt Howard R. Miller of Spokane, Washington is recorded by the National Jewish Welfare Board, Bureau of War Records. His father is recorded as Charles A. Miller, W. 107 28th St., Spokane, Washington.
14. Washington Death Certificates, 1907–1960 (ancestry.com). Anna (Whittle) Miller, died at Spokane WA on 7 Mar 1941. (his mother)
15. World War I Draft Registration of Charles Alwyn Miller. 12 Sep 1918 (his father)
16. World War II Draft Registration of Charles Alwyn Miller. 25 Apr 1942 (his father)
17. Yowan, Robert G. Personal Conversation. 2 Oct 2014 (a crewmate; confirmed that the Lang crew completed B-17 operational training at Alexandria, Louisiana)
Research by:
Paul Webber
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
Last edited 7 Apr 2023
He attended Jefferson Elementary School, and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane in 1942. His photo in the senior class yearbook is accompanied by this entry:
------------
Miller, Howard
Jefferson
Mathematics; A. S. B. Council;
Sergeant-at-Arms, Freshman
Class; Vice-President, Sophomore
Class; B. F. Council; U. of Idaho
------------
He was enrolled at the University of Idaho and was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Moscow, Latah County, Idaho on November 4, 1942.
He completed Army Air Forces pilot training, and was assigned as copilot on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Kenneth W. Lang. The Lang crew completed B-17 operational training at Alexandria Army Air Base, Louisiana, and was assigned to the 838th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived in England by October 31, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is Lt Lang's crew roster on December 24, 1944:
B-17G 44-8192 – 838th Bomb Squadron
• Lang, Kenneth W – 2/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Miller, Howard R – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Alvine Jr, Samuel – F/O – Navigator – Safe
• Lang, George F – 2/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Weber, James A – S/Sgt – Engineer – Safe
• Huck, Donald R – Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Yowan, Robert C – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – Safe
• Kausrud, Donald C – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Haskett, Charles W – Sgt – Tail Gunner – Safe
On December 24, 1944, the 8th Air Force launched mission #760, the largest aerial mission of the war, which involved more than 2000 heavy bombers. The mission was to bomb German airfields and supply lines to stop the German offensive in the Ardennes known as the Battle of the Bulge. The 487th Bomb Group led the entire 8th Air Force on this mission. Lt Lang's crew flew B-17G 44-8192 in the number eleven position of the 487th Bomb Group's Low Squadron. The Group's target was the airfield at Babenhausen, Germany, but the formation was attacked south of Liege, Belgium, before the Allied fighter cover arrived. German fighters shot down six of thirteen aircraft in the Low Squadron, including B-17G 44-8192. Lt Miller and three of his crewmates were killed in action. He and Lt Lang were probably killed by enemy gunfire on the flight deck. Sgt Huck and Sgt Kausrud were probably killed by enemy gunfire at their positions in the waist. Sgt Yowan was wounded by enemy gunfire in the ball turret, but he was able to exit the turret and bail out of the burning aircraft along with four others. The survivors landed in friendly territory and were recovered by American forces. The aircraft crashed at Louveigne, Belgium.
Lt Miller is buried at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Belgium, in Plot E, Row 8, Grave 50.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1920 US Census; Washington; Spokane County; Spokane City. Miller, Charles A. 2 Jan 1920 (his father)
3. 1940 US Census; Washington; Spokane County; Spokane City. Miller, Charles A. 5 Apr 1940 (his father)
4. American Battle Monuments Commission
5. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
6. Enlistment Record of Howard R. Miller
7. Haskett, Charles W. Battle of the Bulge Memories: The Last Mission. 2002 (tail gunner on the Kenneth Lang crew)
8. Rhode Island Birth Index Rhode Island Birth Index, 1636–1930 (ancestry.com). Annie T. Whittle born in Rhode Island on 26 Aug 1890; Father: James Whittle; Mother: Ann E Whittle (his mother)
9. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 11258
10. U.S. School Yearbooks, 1900–1999 (ancestry.com): Lewis and Clark High School. Tiger [yearbook]. Spokane, Washington, 1942 (photo on page 43)
11. U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, about Lucille Irene (Miller) Kuckenbecker (2 Mar 1920 – 12 Aug 1998) (his sister)
12. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946
13. U.S. World War II Jewish Servicemen Cards, 1942–1947 (ancestry.com). Death of 2/Lt Howard R. Miller of Spokane, Washington is recorded by the National Jewish Welfare Board, Bureau of War Records. His father is recorded as Charles A. Miller, W. 107 28th St., Spokane, Washington.
14. Washington Death Certificates, 1907–1960 (ancestry.com). Anna (Whittle) Miller, died at Spokane WA on 7 Mar 1941. (his mother)
15. World War I Draft Registration of Charles Alwyn Miller. 12 Sep 1918 (his father)
16. World War II Draft Registration of Charles Alwyn Miller. 25 Apr 1942 (his father)
17. Yowan, Robert G. Personal Conversation. 2 Oct 2014 (a crewmate; confirmed that the Lang crew completed B-17 operational training at Alexandria, Louisiana)
Research by:
Paul Webber
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
Last edited 7 Apr 2023
Second Lieutenant Howard R. Miller, Army serial number O-779188, was born at Spokane, Spokane County, Washington in 1924. His parents were Charles Alwyn Miller (7 Feb 1886 – unk), who was born at Marshalltown, Marshall County, Iowa; and Anna T. (Whittle) Miller (26 Aug 1890 – 7 Mar 1941), who was born in Rhode Island. (His mother's first name is recorded as Anadine in the 1940 US census.) He had a sister, Lucille Irene (Miller) Kuckenbecker (2 Mar 1920 – 12 Aug 1998), who was born at Spokane, Washington. In 1940 the family lived at West 107 28th Avenue in Spokane. His father was a foreman and later superintendent at McKesson Drug Company in Spokane.
He attended Jefferson Elementary School, and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane in 1942. His photo in the senior class yearbook is accompanied by this entry:
------------
Miller, Howard
Jefferson
Mathematics; A. S. B. Council;
Sergeant-at-Arms, Freshman
Class; Vice-President, Sophomore
Class; B. F. Council; U. of Idaho
------------
He was enrolled at the University of Idaho and was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Moscow, Latah County, Idaho on November 4, 1942.
He completed Army Air Forces pilot training, and was assigned as copilot on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Kenneth W. Lang. The Lang crew completed B-17 operational training at Alexandria Army Air Base, Louisiana, and was assigned to the 838th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived in England by October 31, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is Lt Lang's crew roster on December 24, 1944:
B-17G 44-8192 – 838th Bomb Squadron
• Lang, Kenneth W – 2/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Miller, Howard R – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Alvine Jr, Samuel – F/O – Navigator – Safe
• Lang, George F – 2/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Weber, James A – S/Sgt – Engineer – Safe
• Huck, Donald R – Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Yowan, Robert C – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – Safe
• Kausrud, Donald C – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Haskett, Charles W – Sgt – Tail Gunner – Safe
On December 24, 1944, the 8th Air Force launched mission #760, the largest aerial mission of the war, which involved more than 2000 heavy bombers. The mission was to bomb German airfields and supply lines to stop the German offensive in the Ardennes known as the Battle of the Bulge. The 487th Bomb Group led the entire 8th Air Force on this mission. Lt Lang's crew flew B-17G 44-8192 in the number eleven position of the 487th Bomb Group's Low Squadron. The Group's target was the airfield at Babenhausen, Germany, but the formation was attacked south of Liege, Belgium, before the Allied fighter cover arrived. German fighters shot down six of thirteen aircraft in the Low Squadron, including B-17G 44-8192. Lt Miller and three of his crewmates were killed in action. He and Lt Lang were probably killed by enemy gunfire on the flight deck. Sgt Huck and Sgt Kausrud were probably killed by enemy gunfire at their positions in the waist. Sgt Yowan was wounded by enemy gunfire in the ball turret, but he was able to exit the turret and bail out of the burning aircraft along with four others. The survivors landed in friendly territory and were recovered by American forces. The aircraft crashed at Louveigne, Belgium.
Lt Miller is buried at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Belgium, in Plot E, Row 8, Grave 50.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1920 US Census; Washington; Spokane County; Spokane City. Miller, Charles A. 2 Jan 1920 (his father)
3. 1940 US Census; Washington; Spokane County; Spokane City. Miller, Charles A. 5 Apr 1940 (his father)
4. American Battle Monuments Commission
5. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
6. Enlistment Record of Howard R. Miller
7. Haskett, Charles W. Battle of the Bulge Memories: The Last Mission. 2002 (tail gunner on the Kenneth Lang crew)
8. Rhode Island Birth Index Rhode Island Birth Index, 1636–1930 (ancestry.com). Annie T. Whittle born in Rhode Island on 26 Aug 1890; Father: James Whittle; Mother: Ann E Whittle (his mother)
9. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 11258
10. U.S. School Yearbooks, 1900–1999 (ancestry.com): Lewis and Clark High School. Tiger [yearbook]. Spokane, Washington, 1942 (photo on page 43)
11. U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, about Lucille Irene (Miller) Kuckenbecker (2 Mar 1920 – 12 Aug 1998) (his sister)
12. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946
13. U.S. World War II Jewish Servicemen Cards, 1942–1947 (ancestry.com). Death of 2/Lt Howard R. Miller of Spokane, Washington is recorded by the National Jewish Welfare Board, Bureau of War Records. His father is recorded as Charles A. Miller, W. 107 28th St., Spokane, Washington.
14. Washington Death Certificates, 1907–1960 (ancestry.com). Anna (Whittle) Miller, died at Spokane WA on 7 Mar 1941. (his mother)
15. World War I Draft Registration of Charles Alwyn Miller. 12 Sep 1918 (his father)
16. World War II Draft Registration of Charles Alwyn Miller. 25 Apr 1942 (his father)
17. Yowan, Robert G. Personal Conversation. 2 Oct 2014 (a crewmate; confirmed that the Lang crew completed B-17 operational training at Alexandria, Louisiana)
Research by:
Paul Webber
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
Last edited 7 Apr 2023
He attended Jefferson Elementary School, and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane in 1942. His photo in the senior class yearbook is accompanied by this entry:
------------
Miller, Howard
Jefferson
Mathematics; A. S. B. Council;
Sergeant-at-Arms, Freshman
Class; Vice-President, Sophomore
Class; B. F. Council; U. of Idaho
------------
He was enrolled at the University of Idaho and was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Moscow, Latah County, Idaho on November 4, 1942.
He completed Army Air Forces pilot training, and was assigned as copilot on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Kenneth W. Lang. The Lang crew completed B-17 operational training at Alexandria Army Air Base, Louisiana, and was assigned to the 838th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group, at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. They arrived in England by October 31, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. Here is Lt Lang's crew roster on December 24, 1944:
B-17G 44-8192 – 838th Bomb Squadron
• Lang, Kenneth W – 2/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Miller, Howard R – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Alvine Jr, Samuel – F/O – Navigator – Safe
• Lang, George F – 2/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Weber, James A – S/Sgt – Engineer – Safe
• Huck, Donald R – Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Yowan, Robert C – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – Safe
• Kausrud, Donald C – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – KIA
• Haskett, Charles W – Sgt – Tail Gunner – Safe
On December 24, 1944, the 8th Air Force launched mission #760, the largest aerial mission of the war, which involved more than 2000 heavy bombers. The mission was to bomb German airfields and supply lines to stop the German offensive in the Ardennes known as the Battle of the Bulge. The 487th Bomb Group led the entire 8th Air Force on this mission. Lt Lang's crew flew B-17G 44-8192 in the number eleven position of the 487th Bomb Group's Low Squadron. The Group's target was the airfield at Babenhausen, Germany, but the formation was attacked south of Liege, Belgium, before the Allied fighter cover arrived. German fighters shot down six of thirteen aircraft in the Low Squadron, including B-17G 44-8192. Lt Miller and three of his crewmates were killed in action. He and Lt Lang were probably killed by enemy gunfire on the flight deck. Sgt Huck and Sgt Kausrud were probably killed by enemy gunfire at their positions in the waist. Sgt Yowan was wounded by enemy gunfire in the ball turret, but he was able to exit the turret and bail out of the burning aircraft along with four others. The survivors landed in friendly territory and were recovered by American forces. The aircraft crashed at Louveigne, Belgium.
Lt Miller is buried at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Belgium, in Plot E, Row 8, Grave 50.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1920 US Census; Washington; Spokane County; Spokane City. Miller, Charles A. 2 Jan 1920 (his father)
3. 1940 US Census; Washington; Spokane County; Spokane City. Miller, Charles A. 5 Apr 1940 (his father)
4. American Battle Monuments Commission
5. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
6. Enlistment Record of Howard R. Miller
7. Haskett, Charles W. Battle of the Bulge Memories: The Last Mission. 2002 (tail gunner on the Kenneth Lang crew)
8. Rhode Island Birth Index Rhode Island Birth Index, 1636–1930 (ancestry.com). Annie T. Whittle born in Rhode Island on 26 Aug 1890; Father: James Whittle; Mother: Ann E Whittle (his mother)
9. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 11258
10. U.S. School Yearbooks, 1900–1999 (ancestry.com): Lewis and Clark High School. Tiger [yearbook]. Spokane, Washington, 1942 (photo on page 43)
11. U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, about Lucille Irene (Miller) Kuckenbecker (2 Mar 1920 – 12 Aug 1998) (his sister)
12. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946
13. U.S. World War II Jewish Servicemen Cards, 1942–1947 (ancestry.com). Death of 2/Lt Howard R. Miller of Spokane, Washington is recorded by the National Jewish Welfare Board, Bureau of War Records. His father is recorded as Charles A. Miller, W. 107 28th St., Spokane, Washington.
14. Washington Death Certificates, 1907–1960 (ancestry.com). Anna (Whittle) Miller, died at Spokane WA on 7 Mar 1941. (his mother)
15. World War I Draft Registration of Charles Alwyn Miller. 12 Sep 1918 (his father)
16. World War II Draft Registration of Charles Alwyn Miller. 25 Apr 1942 (his father)
17. Yowan, Robert G. Personal Conversation. 2 Oct 2014 (a crewmate; confirmed that the Lang crew completed B-17 operational training at Alexandria, Louisiana)
Research by:
Paul Webber
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
Last edited 7 Apr 2023
Inscription
HOWARD R. MILLER
2LT 838 BOMB SQ 487 BOMB GP (H)
WASHINGTON DEC 24 1944
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Washington.
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